Rheological measurements shearing disk viscometer

The parallel-disk viscometer used for measuring the shear stress and normal stress difference of molten thermoplastics is similar in principle to the cone-n-plate viscometer except that the lower cone is replaced by a smooth circular disk. This type of viscometer was initially developed for measuring the rheological properties of rubber [29-33] and therefore made use of serrated disks placed in a pressurized cavity to prevent rubber slippage. When it was adapted for thermoplastic melts [1534,35], measurements were performed using smooth disks and without pressure. 

Investigatorsstudying partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solutions observed apparent viscosities 5 to 20 times the values measured in a conventional viscometer at the shear rates believed to exist in the porous media. These viscosity increases were not anticipated from the rheological behavior of the fluids. Pye introduced the concept of the resistance factor to quantify this effect. Burcik observed a decrease in the mobility of brine in a Berea sandstone disk that had been previously contacted with partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. The mobility reduction persisted even after 100 PV of brine had been flushed through the disk. Burcik concluded that polymer molecules retained in the pore structure by adsorption or mechanical entrapment were hydrophillic and restricted the flow of water. 

The cone-n-plate viscometer is a widely used instrument for measurement of shear flow rheological properties of polymer melts [9-20]. The principal features of this viscometer are shown schematically in Fig. 3.1. The sanaple, whose rheological properties are to be measured, is trapped between the circular conical disk at the bottom and the circular horizontal plate at the top. The cone is connected to the drive motor which rotates the disk at various constant speeds, whereas the plate is connected to the torque-measuring device in order to evaluate the resistance of the sample to the motion. The cone is truncated at the top. The gap between the cone and plate is adjusted in such a way as to represent the distance that would have been available if the untruncated cone had just touched the plate. The angle of the cone surface is normally very small (0o 4° or 0.0696 radians) so as to maintain [4] cosec Op = 1. The cone angles are chosen such that for any point on the cone surface, the ratio of angular speed and distance to the plate is constant. This ensures that the shear rate is constant from the cone tip to the outer radius of the conical disk. Similarly, the shear... 

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